Process of disintegrating pine-needles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST OGROSKY, OF OIVATONNA, MINNESOTA.

PROCESS OF DISINTEGRATING PINE -NEEDLES.

fiPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,007, dated September 9, 1890.

Application fileil May 24,1889. fierial No. 312,001. (No specimens) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNST OGROSKY, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Owatonna, in the county of Steele and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in the Process of Disintegrating Pine-Needles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the treatment of pineneedles, whereby the same are reduced to fibers suitable for use in filling mattresses, pillows, and for other like purposes.

I am aware that heretofore pine-needles have been subjected to the action of steam and subsequent steps with the same end in View, and I therefore do not seek to cover, broadly, a process of treating pine-needles wherein submitting them to the action of steam constitutes an essential step, but restrict myself to my particular process.

In carrying my process into execution the pine-needles are first placed within a barrel which has been provided with a double or false bottom, said bottom being placed, preferably, about four inches above the real bottom and is perforated or provided with nu merous small holes, through which holes the soluble extracts from the needles are allowed to pass into the space between the bottoms, as will presently appear.

Perforated steam-pipes are placed within the space between the bottoms of the barrel, and these pipes are suitably connected with a source of steam-supply. vided with a closely-fitting cover, through which a pipe is passed which communicates witha cooling-worm within an adjacent barrel.

The barrel having been filled with needles and the cover of the barrel secured in place,

The barrel is prov steam is admitted at suitabletemperature and under suitable pressure into the pipes between the bottoms of the barrel, and this supply of steam is maintained for four hours time. At the expiration of this period of steaming or cooking the soluble extracts from the needles are drawn oif from the space between the bottoms of the barrel through suitable faucets provided for the purpose, while the volatile oils and steam are condensed by the cooling-worm within the adjacent barrel, when the water and oils may be separated.

The extracts are placed within suitable copper kettles, and are boiled until all of the water has been evaporated.

' The needles, having been removed from the barrel, are crushed by any of the forms of crushing machinery adapted to the purpose, the amount of crushingto which they are subjected depending upon thedegree of fineness to which it is desired to reduce the fiber. After having thus crushed the needles the fiber produced is throughly washed, preferably, in warm water, in order to remove all impurities, and the fiber is then spread upon tables or platforms, where it is allowed to dry.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is The herein-described improvement in the treatment of pine-needles to reduce them to fiber, which consists in firstsubjecting the needles to the action of steam in a closed receptacle for about four hours, next drawing oif the soluble extracts, next crushing the needles, next washing the fiber produced by the crushing, and finally spreading and drying the fiber, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNST OGROSKY.

Witnesses:

W. N. SPERRY, J. E. TRUESDELL. 

